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HOW THIS IS MONEY CAN HELP

If you don't speak up most companies will wait until the year end to refund you, while some suppliers won't cough up the cash automatically unless your credit balance is over a certain amount.

But remember, if you pay by direct debit you are spreading your estimated energy costs out over the year.

This means you will likely pay more than your actual use in the summer, so that your bills evens out over the winter when you turn on your heating.

How can I find out if I am incredit?

If you manage your account online, you may be able to see already if you in credit or debit with your energy supplier.

But to get an up to date snapshot of your usage and the state of your account you should take a meter reading.

Next, call your supplier and ask for your current balance in light of your new reading.

They will tell you if you have overpaid and therefore have a balance sitting in your energy account which you could claim back.

Do you get anything for staying incredit?

Small supplier Ovo energy pays customers an inflation-beating 3 per cent interest and IRESA pays as much as 4.5 per cent on amounts you are in credit.

But customers elsewhere won't get anything extra for overpaying.

Should I keep an incredit balance to protect me against price hikes?

The uSwitch research found that a third of families are worried about how they will afford bills afterthe latest wave of price hikes kicks in.

It also revealed that 40 per cent of customers plan to leave any incredit cash where it is to try to help with escalating energy costs.

This year, five of the Big Six energy suppliers have already announced inflation-busting increases. Scottish Power, Npower and EDF Energy customers on standard variable tariffs saw their bills go up in March while SSE and E.on bill payers will experience hikes before the end of this month.

EDF customers are then in store for a second 7.2 per cent, hike scheduled for 21 June.

An incredit balance will mean you can pay less next winter without running up debt with your supplier, but there are better ways of helping to make sure you can afford your energy bills when prices go up.

Claire Osborne, uSwitch.com energy expert, says: 'Consumers who are building up credit to soften the blow of price hikes should instead consider reclaiming this money and switching to a cheaper deal.

'With an average credit refund of £117 and savings of over £350 by switching supplier, it could be a very effective way to control spiraling energy bills.'

As many as 85 per cent of energy customers are signed up with one of these energy giants, according research by First Utility.

What's more, 70 per cent are are stuck on the most expensive energy deals - their suppliers' standard variable tariff.

Those who switch away from these deals stand to save a huge amount, as much as £357 for the average household, according to uSwitch figures.

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